The MAC has become the first FBS conference to cancel its football season. After that move, it is looking even worse for any college football to happen this year.
Two Power 5 athletic directors told CBS that the cancellation of the 2020 season is now “unavoidable.”
“It’s not fair what we’re doing to our coaches and student-athletes,” one long-time Power Five AD said. “The sooner we can come to a finality, the better.”
All of the logistics that these conferences are attempting seem to be all for nothing. They have tried to make it happen, but the complications of COVID-19 have become too much.
No medical group or experts have said that football can happen. They seem to all agree that this would be hard to pull off. Now, the questions are whether or not they will cancel before the season even starts.
It could be highly possible that conferences get through a game or two. After some positive coronavirus cases, which is sure to happen, they would have to cancel the season.
“I’m of the opinion it’s when, not if [the 2020 season is canceled],” the first AD said. “[The MAC announcement] adds more momentum to the finish line. I think everyone’s medical group is now all telling them the same thing. We all keep having the same conversations.”
What If the Season is Cancelled?
Because no one has wanted to be the first to cancel, there haven’t been any plans on what would happen if the season is canceled. Is the spring a possibility? Or will they look toward the 2021 fall season?
“No one has talked about a plan if the season is canceled,” West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons ESPN. “If it’s canceled, we need to be able to give clear direction at that time, as opposed to saying, ‘We don’t know.'”
If one Power 5 conference cancels the season, the rest will follow. One athletic director mentioned that it could be the PAC-12 because of how prominent the virus is on the west coast.
The Big 10 might be the first to cancel. They have a meeting on Sunday night that could bring bad news for the season. It is rumored that presidents in the conference are ready to do away with the upcoming season.
Do the Players Want to Play?
There have been coaches that have spoken about their players and the virus. Many have come out and said how much they are scared to play.
Some players have young kids or older parents; many who can’t afford to get sick because of the risks. Opting out isn’t necessarily a player safety issue as much as it is a limiting virus exposure move.
However, there are plenty of players that want to play. Clemson’s quarterback and Heisman hopeful, Trevor Lawrence, sent a tweet out saying that they were ready to play.
College football players might not have a chance to suit up in 2020, and it appears that the NCAA needs to start preparing for a canceled or postponed season. There needs to be a plan in place as to what happens next.
